Adjustable sectional bed



Dec. 24, 1929. s. RoTHAuszKY ET AL ADJUSTABLE SECTIONAL BED Filed June17, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet lIHIIIHHHHIHHHIII'IIHII HHHHIH www OJ Al.

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s. ROTHAUSZKY ET AL Dec. 24, 1929.

ADJUSTABLE SECTIONAL BED 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 17, 1925 LEFY SIDEHEAD FEET 2;@4649547 Svwemtoz 5 @31g f/Jel'f' @Home/13 will@ Dec. 24,1929.

s. ROTHAUSZKY ET AL. 1,740,906 ADJUSTABLE SECTIONALVBED Filed June 17,1925 4 Sheets-Sheet DeC- 24, 1929. s. RoTHAUszKY ET Al. 1,740,906

ADJUSTABLE SECTIONAL BED Filed June 17, 1925 4- sheets-sneer 4 @Y fmfqg@Patented Dec. 24, 1929 n SIMON ROTHAUSZKY AN D JOHN SCHLER, OF AKRON,OHO

ADJUSTABLE SECTIONAL BED applicati@ med :une 17,4 1925. semi No. 37,633.

This invention relates to beds and has for its main object to provide abed made up of sections so that its head and feet portions, as Well asits right and left sides, may be raised from or lowered to a horizontalosition and in general adjusted at the will o the user so as to give himor her the greatest possiblel iently and easily put in operatlon by aperson While using the bed.

Otherobjects of the invention are: To rovide an automatic adjustable bedwhicii is simple in construction, easy to assemble, positive and smoothin operation and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

We long felt that a bed of the above characteristics would be a greatbenefit to sick and invalid people in hospitals, sanitariums, or even inhomes, being laid -up in bed practically in a helpless state and whohave to relay on nurses or other outside help to adjust their beds totheir greatest comfort. Our present invention solves this problem andfills the want, since a person lying in a bed constructed according toour invention may adjust the head or feet, the right or left hand sideof his or her bed Without any special effort, by simply pushing a buttonand keeping his or her linger on said button as long as he or shedesires the bed to continue the adjusting movement selected. It isobvious that our invention i"s of great benefit also to other personsthan the sick or invalid who Want special comfort in their beds, andthat the principles Vot ourinvention may be applied to other forms offurniture besides the beds, like to couches, sofas, etc.

Vith these objects, and such other objects as may herein appear, inView, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement andcombination of the parts which will be hereinafter fully described andafterward specifically claimed.

.In order that its construction and operation may be readilycomprehended. We will now proceed with'a full, clear and speciicdescription of. the invention, having reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which s how an approved, embodiment thereof, and in whichfFig. l is a perspective view of a bed frame with the mattresses thereonconstructed in 'sections according to our invention.

Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the base portion of the bed and itsassociated parts.

Flg. 3, isa central longitudinal sectional elevation ofthe bed all partsbeing in the normal position.

Fig. 4, is a partial' cross sectional elevation of the bed about on thecentral line. o

Fig. 5, is a detail cross sectional elevation 7 through the bed frameand mattress with a section of the bed tilted.

Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the elements for actuating the bedsections. 75

Fig. 7 isa longitudinal sectional elevation ofthe electric power motoremployed.l

Fig. 8, is aperspective detail of the switch box employed in theselective bed section movements, and Fig. 9 is a' diagram of the 80 lelectrical connections employed in our invention.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a bedwhich for the purpose of our invention is made up of sections resting ona frame 1l, also constructed of sections corresponding to the sectionsof the mattresses, as shown in Fig. 1. The springs and 9o Since the be 5will be obvious that the different sections of the bed may be moved,raisedor lowered independently of the rest of the bed, as will be morefully explained hereinafter.

Hinges, like 12", 12", 12, 12, etc., are provided tojoin the differentsections of the bed to one another and to permit their free movementwith relation to each-other. If we suppose that the end ofthe bed markedwith the numeral 13 is the head of the same, and the end marked 14represents the foot of the bed, then the sections 13, 13", and 13 arethe head sections and the sections 14, 14" and 14 are the foot sections,while the sections'13" and 14 together with the middle section 16 arethe right side sections of the bed, and in a similar manner, thesections 13, 14 and 15 are the left side sections of the bed. The secrtion 17 in the pcenter of the bed' is stationary and will be ermanentlyfixed to the supportingr frame o' our bed.

The bed is lresting on a supporting or base frame 18, the center portion17 being permanently fixed to the center member 19 of the base frame,while the other portions of the bed structure rest in horizontalposition upon the upper ends of the four arms 20, 21, 22 and 23 tolimitthe downward movement of the different sections from raised position.Such members and elements `may be easily constructed according to theusual methods employed in the art, and the limiting means for thedownward movement of the different sections may also be incorporatedinthe respective hinges 12, 12", etc. as well known in the art. v

ortion 15, 16, 13" and 14" are directly actuated) for raising a part ofthe bed by means hereinafter described, and the corner portions of thebed, namely, 13, 13, 14a and 14 must move about transverse orlongitudinal axis of the bed, as may be necessary to raise an end orside of the bed, coacting means 1174 are provided to move the saidcorner portions from the central' end and side portions. It may here benoted that the head portions 110 of the bed may be secured to thecentral end portions 13b and 14" in any suitable manner. The adjustmentand regula-tion of our hed '55 is executed by raising or lowering thethree y head sections, or the three foot sections, as well as the threeright hand sections or the three left hand sections, according to thedesire and comfort of the user of the bed. Arm 2O of the o base frameand the mechanisms cooperating 5 side, the foot, and theright side ofthe bed.

-when said end 31 is Vcaused to recede.

An electro-motor 24 is preferably arranged on the base frameto providethe necessary power for raising orv lowering the different sections oft-he bed and a switch box 25, secured to an underside of the bedcontrols of operation of the electro-motor and the mechanisms connectedtherewith, the eight buttons shown on the switch box 25 serving forraising or lowering the four sections of the bed.

The inside mechanism of the base frame is shown in a semi-diagramaticalVmanner in Fig. 6. The electro-motor 24 carries a driving gear 26 at theone end of its shaft 27. Gear 26 is adapted to drive either the gear 28used for the right side and left side movements ofthe bed sections, orto drive the gear 29 used for the head or foot movements of the bedsections. ably placed in planes above and below the center driving gear26, (Fig. V7 and also in different v planes horizontally, the plane ofthe gear 28 being in front and the plane of the gear 29 in the back ofthe plane of gear 26, when said gear is in its normal position.

vGear 26, therefore, normally is not connected, and in order to move theright or left sides of the bed, gear 26 must be moved forwardly, to theright side of Fig.`7,'so as to engage the gear 28, and, vice-versa, thegear 26 will have to bemovedY in'a left handed direction, as shown inFig. 7 when it is our purpose to make the gear 26 act on the head orfoot sections of the bed.

A semi-circular toothed segment 30 is housed in the hollow arms 20 and22, slidably arranged therein, its end 31 adapted to catch and raise thehead sections of the bed by any suitable means (not shown), when saidend 31 is raised, or to permit said seo` tions to be lowered smoothlyand slowly The opposite end 32 of the segment 30 will coact in a similarbut reversed manner with the foot sections of the bed. The driving ofthe segment 30 is executed through the worm 33 journaled in the baseframe and driven from the gear 29 through the intermediacy of shaft 34and bevel gears 35 and 36. The sliding movement of thel segment 30 inthe arms 20 and 22 and in the base frame is facilitated by rollers 37arranged at appropriate places in said arms and in the base frame. In Vasimilar manner as has been detailed in'connection with the toot-hedsegments 30, the toothed segments 38 will be used to raise or lower .theright hand or left hand side sections ot the bed, the end 39 of thesegment 38 being used for the raising or lowering of the right hand sideof the bed, while the other end 4Q of said segment may be used for theraising or lowering of the left handside sections of the bed. Motion maybe'imparted to the segment 38, slidably housed in the hollow arms 21 and23 and in the baseframe, by the gear 28, through the Said two gears arepreferles intermediacy of the shaft 41, Worm 42, and.

y up by the wormsk themselves, the shafts of which are safely andsecurely housed in the base frame.

The switch box 25 is arranged at any suitable place on the bed framenear the head portion ofthe same so as to be within reach of the sick orinvalid person using the bed, and itsbuttons 45, 46, 47, and 48 Willstart an upward movement of the head, feet, left side, and right sidesections of the bed, respectively, while the buttons 49, 50, 51, and 52control the downward movement of the same sections. Electricalconnections, to be described presently, are provided whereby thepressing of any one button Will start such a movement of the bed forwhich said button-is intended and will automatically prevent asimultaneous and confusing movement of any other portion of the bed.Triple electrical contact springs 53 are provided with each button (Fig.9), the said triple contact springs connecting with appropriate branchesof the electrical circuits of our device through the binding posts 54,and are` members 55 so that they execute simultaneous movements andeither make or break the current in their respective circuits at thesame time. A pressure on any of the buttons 45 to 52 will cause therespective three spring contacts to close their circuits which willremain closed and the electricity will fiow through the same as long asthe button is kept pressed, while upon the release of the button thespring contacts will automatically break the respective circuits.

The electro-motor 24 (Fig. 7) 1s not mounted on the shaft 27 directlybut it is secured on a sleeve or tube 56 which carries a key 57 securedto the inside of the same and adapted to run in the key way 58 when `theshaft 27 is moving to the right or to the left and drivesaid shaftinanyposition as soon as the armature is caused-to rotate. The motor may beof any standard type and is shown in the drawing with the armature 59,rectifier 60, and magnetic coils 61, within the housing 62. At the oneend of said housing and adjoining the same in the solenoid case 63,containing the two solenoids 64 and 65, which provide the means to pullthe shaft 27 into a right handed or left handed direction and cause itto engage the gears 28 or 29, according to which solenoid will receiveelectrical energy. In order to enable the two solenoids to act on theshaft 27, said shaft is made of brass or other non-magnetic metal,having a soft iron ring 66 secured thereon between the two solenoids.The forked member 67,

pivoted at 68, engages the ring 66, and has two side arms 68 and 69cooperating with the spring actuated two slidable pins 70 and 71,indicated as springs .70, 71, in the diagram Fig. 9, which will tend toreturn the forked member 67, and through the action of the same theshaft 27, into its middle position, as shown in the Fig. 7, in whichposition the gear 26 is out of engagement with either of the bed'operatinggears 28 or 29. Should one of the buttons mentionedhereinbefore and closing one of thecircuits necessary to operate the bedin the desired selected manner, be pressed,`the motor 24 will receiveelectrical energy and starts to rotate while at the Sametime one orthe-other of the solenoids 64 or 65 will also receive electricalcurrent, will be magnetized and draw soft iron ring 66, and the shaftA27.therewith, in a right handed or left handed direction and therebycause the motor to rotateone or the other of the 'gears y28 or. 29-jxidthe rest of the bed mechanism therewi'tli5'as hasbeen more fullydescribed hereinbefore. The operation of the motor and therespective-solenoid will last as long as the respective' button iskeptpressed and the electrical circuit; closed. Upon the release ofthebutton,fitsspring contacts will be automatically returned to the openposition, the flow of the electrical energy broken, and forked member67, as well as the shaft 27 returned to their middle position by one ofthe pins 70 and 71.

.The diagram of the electrical connections and circuits necessary toobtain the different movements of the bed and its operating mechanisms,indicated hereinbefore, is shown in Fig. 9. The electrical energy isreceived from any of the usual outside sources at 72 and will bereturned to the sameas at 73. The energy is led into the main conductor74 from which it may be branched oif into the different parts of themechanism, while it is returned through the second mainl conductor 75 towhich the return ends of the dilferent electricalcircuits are connected.The mtor Willreceive its circuit from the branchingo point 76, thecircuit passin through1 the-switch 77, both contact points78 and 79 ofwhich are adapted to make electrical contacts with an electro-conductivearm 80, arm 80 is secured on the shaft of the oscillating lever 67,described hereinbefore, but insulated therefrom as well as from allother metallic parts of the mechanisrn. 'It will be seen that thesprings 70 and 71a of the pins 70 and 71, described hereinbefore, willtend to keep the arm 80 in a neutral central position, as shown, inwhich case it does not make contact with either of the points 78 or 79.As soon, however, as one or the armature 59 of the motor, and returningto the branching olf point 82 in the returny conduit 75.

Suppose the user of the bed wants to raisei the head portion ofthe same.He then will press the button 45 which will cause the mechanisms tooperate in such a manner as to move the head portion of the bed in anupward direction. As will be seen by inspecting Fig. 9, pressing downthe button 45 will close the three contact points 45, 45", and 45, andthree circuits will be closed thereby, one for magnetizing therespective solenoid, another one for the armature of the motor, and athird one for its magnets. The solenoid circuit will start at 83, passthrough the contact point 45 and downwardly through 84, 85, 86, into thecoil of the solenoid 64 and return to the main conduit 75, as at 87. Thesolenoid 64 will cause the shaft 27 to slide in a left handedidirection,as described hereinbefore, connecting its driving gear 26 with thedriving gear 29 for the head and feet Amovements of the bed, andat thesame time will close the armature current of the motor at'79. Theclosing of the contact spring 45 Will start a current from 88 downthrough said switch, through the points 89 and 90, and 90'l through themagnet coils 6la in the direction of the arrows 91, and returningthrough the points 92, 93, 94, and spring contact 45b into the returnconduit 74 as at 95. Wemaynow arrange the coils in the armatureandmagnets of the motor in such a relation that the above describedmagnetizing current will cause the worm 33 to lift the head end of thetoothed segments 30. The head portions of the bed will thus be raisedina slow, smooth and even manner as long as the button 45 is keptpressed down. As

`soon as the button is released the Spring contacts at 45, 45", and 45cwill be broken, the solenoid current stopped, shaft 27 returned in itscenter position and the rotation of the motor, as well as its connectionwith the rest of the bed mechanism, cut off.

When it is desired to lower the head portions of the bed, the buttonmarked 49 will be pressed and the contacts 49, 49b and 49c closed.Anobservation of the different resulting new circuits will reveal thefact that both, solenoid and armature circuits will remain the same asbefore', which Will cause the same portions of the bed mechanisms to beoperated, but the magnet circuit will be reversed starting from 88through 49h. 92, through the magnet coils 61a but in a reverseddirection as before, following the dottedarrows 96, then throughthepoints 90a, 90, switch 49c and into the main return conductor 75, as at95. The result will naturally be a'reversed rotationeof the motor andareversed movement of the respective bed mechanisms so that the headortion of the. same will now be lowered instead of being raised `whenthe button 45 was pressed. A close observation of the other parts of theelectrical diagram will reveal the fact that the pressing of the otherbuttons, from 46 to 52, will cause the other portions of the bed to beraised or lowered in a similar manner,and that the pressing of onebutton will close one set of circuits only and will start one kind ofmovement of the bed only, while all the other circuits will be left openand the bed cannot vexecute any other movement simultaneously. This willinsure that the pressing 'of a button will start one selected movementonly and will prevent any other parts of the electrical and mechanicalmechanisms from operating and causing confuslon or danger to theoccupant of the bed.

After a certain portion of the bed has been raised or lowered bypressing of the appropriate button, and said button released, the

bed mechanism will remain in the position reached, o n acount of thedriving worms 33 and 42`be1ng made self-locking.

Thus stop means 103 will'be provided upon effective and reliable mannerwith a` compact- -ly constructed switch boX.

` Changes and variations may be made in the construction of the partswithin the limits of the claim without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. v

One such modificationmight be in providing two motors for our inventioninstead of the one shown in the preferred embodiment, one motor beingused for each, the head and feet, and the right and left side movements.

Another modification` would consist in providing four toothed segments,one for each of the four movable portions of the bed, which wouldoperate in a similar manner as the toothed segments described in thepreferred embodiment.

What we claim as new, is

1. An adjustable bed comprising right and left side sections and headand foot sections, means hingedly connecting the sections by which theyare each adapted to be angularly elevated, a frame having curved crossguides adapted to support said sections and limit the downward movementthereof, crossed segmental racks slidable in-said guides and operable toselectively engage asection to raise and lower the same, andvcontrolling means witlliin reach of the patient for operating the rac s.

2. An adjustable bed comprising right and ico ` SIMON ROTHAUSZKY.

JOHN SCHLER.

